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Mr.    Alfred  Kelcy 


Z.  WITHERS. 


POEMS  AFTER  SLAVERY 


AND 


Others   Descriptive   and 
Patriotic 


BY 

ZACHARY  WITHERS 


SAN  FRANCISCO: 

PACIFIC  COAST  APPEAL  PUBLISHING  CO. 
1905. 


cc      «    ««  «    c 


/ 


COPYRIGHT  1905 

BY 

2.  WITHERS 


CONTENTS. 

PAGE 
THE  MONARCH  OF    MAY ! 

MOONLIGHT  AMID  THE  HILLS 3 

YOUTH 5 

GREATNESS 6 

FREEDOM  TRIUMPHANT 7 

DUTY g 

ODE    TO     BLACKMEN JO 

ODE    TO   BLACK  WOMAN     17 

APPEAL  TO    BLACKMEN 2O 

A     MORAL      21 

THE    ANARCHIST 24 

THE  SECRET  OF  THE  SOUL     26 

HUMILITY    OF    THE     SOUL 27 

SACRAMENTO  RIVER 28 

MOUNT      SHASTA 30 

THE     HARVEST ^ 

REFLECTION 35 

THE  OUTLAWED  SPIRIT    .  .  .  * 36 

EULOGY  TO  THE  BRAVE 4° 

THE    GHOST    OF     H^TE 43 

THE  GOLDEN  STATE 44 

OUR    FLAG 46 


M301019 


VI 


ILLUSTRATIONS. 


AUTHOR'S  PORTRAIT Facing  the  Title-page 


VII 


PREFACE. 


THESE  my  thoughts,  engendered  by  the  influence  of 
my  parents  who  were  slaves,  whom  as  a  boy,  I  was 
wont  to  hear  relate  tiieir  sad  experiences  under  the 
regime  of  slavery,  I  herein  humbly  express.  Should 
you  read  my  verse,  may  you  find  therein  expressed  some 
thought  in  keeping  with  the  high  ideals  of  man. 

Z.  WITHERS. 
Oakland,  Cal.,  June  1st.,  1905. 


THE  MONARCH  OF  MAY. 


WE  watch  the  clouds  in  yonder  sky: 

They  seem  to  kiss  as  they  pass  by. 
Moving  by  the  soft  wind  that  blows, 

Their  shadows  slowly  come  and  go. 
The  Muses  gave  this  pleasant  breeze 

Which  murmurs  softly  through  the  trees 
A  thought,  for  some  quaint  mystic  place 

Where  wearied  rhythm  should  him  give  grace. 


2  THE, MONARCH  ,OF  MAY 

;'  •  \  ;  He>  rightful  then'  was  light  and  gay, 

For  earth  and  sky  gave  him  fair  play; 
The  sun  did  lend  to  him  his  light 

To  search  the  earth  from  morn  till  night. 
Entranced  were  they  by  his  kind  way, 

And  silent  clouds  they  move  away. 
The  gentle  trees  both  bow  and  sway; — 

This  monarch  is  the  wind  of  May. 


MOONLIGHT  AMID  THE  HILLS. 


A  sense  of  awe  doth  fill  the  soul, 
When  from  without  we  feel 

The  stillness  that  the  night  doth  hold, 
And  see  them  yonder  dimly  rise, 

Those  distant  hills  in  silvery  light — 
They  seem  to  slumber  in  the  night. 


Beautiful  sight  that  moves  the  soul, 
That  speaks  to  man  in  mystic  ways, 

The  silvery  moonlight  pale  as  day, 
Covering  the  earth  in  silent  gray. 

Objects  great  and  small  their  shadows  cast, 
And  in  the  dimness  fade  away. 


4  MOONLIGHT  AMID    THE  HILLS. 

The  Unknown  Hand  moveth  the  shadow 
From  the  pale  silvery  mountain  tower, 

The  image  of  Infinite  power — 
To  early  morning's  cheerful  light 

With  golden  hues  of  beauteous  red. 
The  gray  image  of  the  night  hath  fled  ! 


Can  ye  think  of  some  picture  grander, 
Something  more  sublime  to  see. 

The  towering  mountain  and  the  forest, 
Enwrapped  in  this  soft  gray  light, 

Motionless  as  though  they  were  sleeping 
In  the  quietness  of  the  night? 


YOUTH. 


When  this  great  nation,  rich  and  grand, 

With  promising  youth  on  every  hand, 
For  humanity's  sake  will  not  stand, 

Who  then  shall  guide  the  youthful  band? 
Wilt  thou  teach  this  thy  precious  youth, 

No  faith  to  have  in  sacred  truth, 
And  that  brute  force — the  might  of  men — 

Alone  will  serve  the  highest  end  ? 

To  teach  the  youth  such  hideous  ways, 

None  dare  boast  of  courageous  days; 
For  seed  once  sown  in  youthful  heart, 

In  the  future,  bear  thou  in  mind 
The  harvest — O  Nation,  'tis  thine! 

Then  in  season,  plant  thou  reason 
That  these  thy  fitful  youth  shall  see, 

Our  flag  waving  on  every  sea. 


6 
GREATNESS 


Truth  worships  at  the  shrine  of  hope, 

Freedom,  at  the  altar  of  God. 
Justice,  then  in  triumphant  state, 

Shall  live  to  make  our  future  great. 
At  God's  altar  all  men  are  free; 

Therefore  we  seek  His  sacred  light. 
What  then  shall  make  our  nation  great, 

If  Justice  shall  not  rule  the  state? 

Speak,  then,  ye  men  who  boast  of  might. 

Say  ye  thy  wisdom  calleth  right 
To  claim  the  stars  of  God  are  thine, 

With  earth's  riches  fully  inclined? 
To  claim  the  right  to  rule  the  land 

With  heart  selfish  in  thy  great  plan  ? 
From  whence  thy  thoughts  craven  should  be 

In  this  bright  land  of  liberty? 

Greatness  in  men  surely  is  born. 

Their  lives  mature  from  early  morn. 
Each  day  the  sun-lit  soul  gains  strength, 

Struggles  to  win  some  high  ascent, 
Where  lives  the  hope  of  honest  men 

God's  cause  on  earth  they  may  defend. 
Live  then  thy  purpose  known  to  be 

Fighting  for  men  who  shall  be  free. 


7 
FREEDOM  TRIUMPHANT 


In  ancient  times  we're  told  in  rhymes, 
That  thrones  and  empires  decayed. 

No  emperor  thought  of  freedom's  cause; 
'Twas  left  for  us  in  later  days 

To  receive  this  God-like  spirit, 
And  build  a  nation  in  that  name: 

A  Republic  grand  and  stately. 

Freedom,  we  rejoice  at  thy  light ! 

The  lowlv  and  desolate  thee  sought, 
Giving  each  happiness  and  life, 

And  every  day  our  earthly  task 
Is  to  keep  thy  spirit  holy, 

That  all  men  may  be  summoned 
To  toil  for  freedom's  bright  glory. 

Peace  will  follow  each  footstep  bright; 

In  planting  freedom's  heavenly  light, 
Should  his  kind  purpose  be  so  grand, 

Be  it  a  nation  or  a  man. 
That  great  spirit,  wherever  it  dwells, 

Will  fill  the  heart  with  Christian  swells 
To  noble  live  and  be  great. 


8  FREEDOM    TRIUMPHANT. 

For  this  great  cry  against  subject  lands, 
And  men  of  other  strange  customs — 

Know  thou  'tis  not  a  hero's  cause, 
To  abandon  a  heathen  nation  ! 

For  God's  light  is  Freedom's  spirit, 
He  shed  his  blood  for  all  mankind. 

Then  in  duty  could  we  blunder? 


Imprudence  shall  not  harm  our  cause, 
Nor,  shall  we  freedom's  spirit  luse. 

With  wings  flamed  with  eternal  fire, 
Which  human  wisdom  ne'er  described, 

This  spirit  diiect  came  from  God 
To  be  planted  in  every  sod. 

Thus  triumphs  His  infinite  ways. 


9 
DUTY. 

Were  fortune  pleased  with  thy  fair  grace, 

And  place  upon  thy  head  a  crown, 
Cast  thou  thine  eyes  uplifted  then 

To  see  if  it  be  thij  fair  crown. 
Then  frown  ye  not  on  humble  birth, 

Whose  calling  least  be  not  as  thine, 
Some  lowly  wretch  nature  hath  brought 

May  yet  do  his  greatest  calling. 

If  thou  be  not  kindly  inclined 

With  humble  walks  that  others  find 

And  mock  with  scorn  their  simple  path, — 
Thy  own  deeds  then  shall  not  be  great, 

Though  thou  be  ruler  of  a  state; 
For  force  to  rule  and  govern  right, 

Bears  nigh  the  soul  and  semblance  then 

With  humble  walks  of  lowly  men. 

Then  if  shouldst  thou  wear  on  thy  head, 

The  crown  to  thee  fortune  haih  pledged, 
May  thy  kind  soul  profound  in  grace, 

Reach  out  to  man  in  every  place! 
Uplift  with  thy  own  firm  embrace, 

Seeking  all  that  in  man  is  great; 
Enraptured  then  the  soul  will  say, 

"Arise  thou  from  thy  lowly  way  !" 


ODE  TO  BLACKMEN 


THE  clouds  of  slavery  cast  their  gloom, 
The  bitter  storm  of  hatred  rose; 

For  the  blacks,  ;twas  dreadful  doom. 
The  watchful  Century  bowed  her  head, 

In  pity,  sorrow  and  in  dread. 
The  Slave-king  ascended  high, 

But  only  his,  it  was  to  die  ! 

Thus  came  he  to  chain  the  soul 

With  thought  of  greed,  a  lust  for  gold, 
To  sink  the  skies  beneath  the  earth, 

For  naught  he  saw  in  human  worth, 
Nor  cared  for  man,  or  honored  birth; 

The  man  to  him  was  but  a  name 
Secured  in  bondage,  'twas  a  gain. 


ODE  TO  BLACKMEN  1 1 

We  laugh  to  scorn  your  cruel  chain, 
A  haunting  misery,  'tis  your  gain. 

He  who  would  claim  the  freedman's  soul, 
Wears  bonds  of  misery  we  are  told, 

His  hopes  are  blighted  by  the  name. 
'  Tis  sorrow,  then  the  awful  shame 

That  marks  the  passion — for  fettered  gain. 

The  outward  life  we  lived  in  shame. 

Our  souls  were  free  from  wicked  claim. 
Rich  may  be  thy  style  and  grand, 

The  world's  great  power  at  thy  command, 
But  shall  the  soul  of  man  not  die 

Whose  days  were  lived  in  lie's  deceit, 
Thus  lost  forever  by  ignoble  gain? 

It  matters  little  in  thy  easy  sway, 
If  freedman  is  ruled  in  selfish  way, 

His  liberty,  too,  thou  mayst  forsake, 
With  power  to  lynch  and  burn  at  stake. 

With  thought  and  reason  to  prescribe 
A  "Jim  Crow"  car  for  him  to  ride, 

And  rear  thy  poisonous,  cruel  hate. 


12  ODE  TO  BLACKMEN 

We  may  not  be  empowered  to  dwell 
In  gaudy  mansions  and  compel 

A  single  tribute  for  the  truth; 

Nor  could  our  fathers  seek  in  youth, 

True  wealth  and  culture's  grandest  aim 
Beneath  thy  foolish,  gloomy  reign, 

Or  live  the  ways  of  usefulness. 

Born  of  flesh  and  blood  to  dwell 
A  slave,  but  only  for  a  spell ! 

Awake  !  bondsmen,  ye  all  are  free ! 
Hear  ye  the  cry  of  liberty  ! 

In  the  azure  sky  we  see 

The  power  of  human  destiny; 

Arise  thou,  'tis  thy  soul  that's  free! 

Who  hears  the  tyrant  at  his  gate? 

The  crimson  spirit  to  relate 
The  wretched  vision  of  his  soul  ? 

'Tis  this  spirit  of  greed  and  gold, 
Whose  cup  with  bitterness  doth  flow, 

It  shares  with  discontented  wail 
That  mocks  its  own  dark  infamy  ! 


ODE  TO  BLACKMEN  13 

A  slave  is  he  with  hopes  fading 

Bending  beneath  the  evil  will. 
A  life  is  often  cursed  with  blight, 

And  ended  by  some  worthless  aim, 
When  others  we  would  fetter  fast 

With  blood-cursed  slavery  reign. 
At  last,  slaves  perish  with  their  chains ! 

Will  ye,  O  !  men  of  nations  great, 
Forsake  them  in  this  sun-lit  land, 

They  whose  lives  are  latent  forces 
Imbued  with  patriotic  zeal? 

They  who  feel  the  mystic  spirit 

Bidding  them  'tis  faith  that  conquers, 
'Tis  love  that  bids  our  nation  stand? 

Since  ye  have  grown  a  nation  strong 

For  rich,  the  poor,  the  blind, 
A  vast  Republic — grand,  sublime, 

Think  ye  once  why  came  this  nation 
During  the  morn  of  her  creation 

With  queer  and  strange  and  new  relation, 
The  slave  ship  and  the  fettered  hand? 


14  ODE  TO  BLACKMEN 

Of  slave  ship !  ghastly  horror  ! 

Of  slave  ship  !  dreaded  fate  ! 
Of  slave  ship !  cruel  hate  ! 

Naught  but  greed  e'er  brought  her, 
Naught  but  sorrow  wrought  her, 

Naught  but  wrong  e'er  brought  her, 
To  thy  peaceful  shore  ! 

Long  misery  and  inhuman  pangs 
With  this  stranger  followed  then. 

At  once  cruelty  sought  to  conquer, 
Enslaved  then  a  race  of  men  ! 

Think  ye  in  peace  the  tide  be  over, 
And  thou  at  ease  and  mildly  sober 

In  that  the  tyrant  made  his  goal? 

Bow  low,  ye  man,  pity  their  sorrow, 
And  pray  ye  that  before  to-morrow, 

Some  spirit  new  of  truth  '11  incline, 
Some  kind  fate  will  be  found  as  thine, 

And  change  thy  soul  from  dust  and  ash, 
From  slavery,  murder  and  rapine. 

Bow  low,  ye  men,  with  tears  of  sorrow  ! 


ODE  TO  BLACKMEN    "  I  5 

The  spirit  of  tyrannical  power 

Is  now  the  danger  of  the  hour. 
Slavery  then  is  human  sorrow 

Where  the  blighted  conscience  drifting, 
Reapeth  sadness,  woes  untold: 

A  wasted,  suffering,  shattered  soul, 
Betrayed,  laden  'neath  its  heavy  load. 

No  man  dare  claim  that  a  nation 
Who  were  enslaved  by  vile  dictation, 

Are  unfitted  to  enjoy  this  land, 
For  when  the  national  honor 

Called  for  men  to  still  the  strife 
The  slave  with  bared  head  proudly 

Offered  to  her  his  manly  life. 

Not  thee,  but  he,  then,  must  be  free 

In  living  hopes  and  power; 
Not  thee,  but  he,  we  must  decree, 

Hero  of  the  darkest  hour. 
Thy  boastful  way  was  never  right; 

Thy  might  and  power  are  dying: 
Hark,  the  soul  repining,  repining  ! 


1 6  ODE  TO  BLACKMEN 

As  the  sun  gives  light  and  warning 
Of  the  snares  that  line  thy  way, 

As  the  sun  gives  hope  that  liveth 
In  the  glory  of  the  day, 

Learn  ye  lessons  of  the  sunlight 
That  the  soul  of  man  is  free, 

And  fettered  chains  will  never  conquer ! 

Now,  your  disdain  is  lost  forever ! 

All  ye  whose  aims  would  chain  the  soul ! 
Grim  slavery  lost  ten  thousand  battles 

Long  ere  his  name  with  truth  was  told; 
He  lost  them  then  and  lost  forever  ! 

Ten  thousand  victories  we  won, 
We  who  have  freedom  of  the  soul  ! 


ODE  TO  BLACKWOMAN 


Verse  upon  verse  has  been  written, 

Naught  was  said  of  thee; 
The  learned  of  all  ages 

To  thee  no  word  decreed. 
Our  literature  and  pictures 

Dare  not  paint  thy  face. 
Woman's  sphere  on  earth  seems  chosen, 

But  not  for  thee  a  place  ? 

Watch  we  for  some  queer  longing 

And  inquiring  lines  to  relate, 
Some  token  of  her  sorrow, 

Some  vision  of  her  fate? 
Was  she  not  once  a  maiden, 

Her  virtue  was  her  crown? 
She  ruled  in  some  grand  place 

With  naive  and  modest  grace. 


1 8  ODE    TO    BLACKWOMAN 


But  why  hath  she  no  place 

In  literature  and  song  ? 
No  thought,  no  word,  no  picture, 

Amid  this  clamoring  throng? 
And  woman's  place  we've  said 

Most  sacred  shall  be  kept, 
And  yet  amid  this  gleaming 

No  word  for  her  reflect  ? 


When  she  did  rule  a  sunny  land, 

Her  voice  was  free  to  sing, 
Her  warbling  notes  and  echoing  song 

Did  make  the  forest  ring. 
And  still  no  place  amid  this  throng, 

This  clamoring  mighty  host? 
And  yet  they  look  upon  her  sorrow, 

To  her  they  claim — no  wrong? 

Strange  these  truths  should  be  concealed, 

Strange  tales  must  fate  reveal. 
Hark  !  time  doth  tell  the  truthful  story  ! 

Her  woes,  her  wrongs  are  many; 
They'll  chill  her  tears  of  sorrow, 

And  heated  rage  of  passion  borrow, 
And  turn  to  stone  her  heart  of  flesh 

Through  deeds  of  shame  and  selfishness. 


ODE    TO    BLACKWOMAN  19 


A  fate  as  cruel  as  the  tomb, 

Where  Death  enshrined  rules, 
She  lives  and  speaketh  there  no  tune, 

For  fear  doth  make  her  dread. 
Were  she  this  story  in  lines  to  say, 

Her  foes  would  lose  the  pay 
Of  fame,  of  home  and  renown 

And  sink  beneath  the  public  frown. 

Bleeding,  sorrowing,  weeping  heart, 

May  thy  laden  cross  'come  light  ! 
Thou  heroine  of  earth's  dark  night, 

The  world  shall  see  thy  mission  then ! 
Thy  honor  shall  all  men  defend  ! 

That  Arian  hue  upon  thy  face, 
Shall  mark  forever  the  unjust  race. 

Thy  piteous  soul  ne'er  sinned. 


20 


APPEAL  TO  BLACKMEN 


How  many  days  and  weeks  and  years> 

How  much  of  thought,  kindness  and  tears, 
How  many  prayers  both  great  and  strong, 

With  years  of  sighing,  patience  long, 
Shall  be  giv'n  thee  in  thy  lone  way, 

Ere  thou  shalt  turn  from  piteous  fate, 
That  leaves  no  mark  save  disgust,  hate? 

O  Blackman  !  tell  me,  tell  me,  pray  ! 

Has  not  the  power  of  the  great 

Thy  life  turned  from  saddened  disgrace  ? 
Has  not  wisdom's  patriotic  pride 

Sought  thee  in  lowliness  to  rise  ? 
Shall  it  be  thee  heedless  to  live 

In  life  sorrowing  cast  aside 
With  sin-cursed  blight  to  mar  thy  way? 

O  Blackman  !  tell  me,  tell  me,  pray  ! 

Wake  up  !  ye  men  from  stupid  grave, 

Where  ruined  conscience  mocketh  hope  ! 
Awake  !  sad  fate,  when  men  to  save, 

Thou  leav'st  thy  courage  in  the  dust ! 
Mock  ye  the  fate  thy  fathers  knew, 

With  slavery's  shackles  on  their  brow  ? 
Liv'st  thou  content,  stupid,  to-day? 

O  Blackman  !  tell  me,  tell  me,  pray  ! 


21 


A  MORAL. 

IF    OTHERS    FO'G'N    FOR    YOU, 


In  the  sunny  South,  bright  and  fair, 

Where  rice,  cotton  they  have  to  spare, 
Where  melons,  too,  they  largely  sow, 

With  poultry  they  in  ratio  grow, 
There  comes  a  story  full  of  fun; 

If  true,  the  wit  is  good  and  clear, 
The  moral  is  worth  our  time  to  learn, 

As  facts  and  truth  seem  to  appear. 

An  old  ex-slave  whose  name  was  Ben, 

His  days  on  earth  seemed  at  an  end — 
Before  a  country  squire  was  brought, 

For  theft  of  his  neighbor's  hen. 
The  judge  uttered  the  charges  grim, 

With  dread  that  would  make  you  shudder. 
Old  Ben  was  calm — he  didn't  flinch, 

He  kiiew  the  judge — it  was  a  cinch. 


22  A  MORAL. 


The  state  did  claim  the  felon's  charge, 

And  old  Ben  was  condemned  to  cell 
As  legal  language  harshly  fell. 

The  counsel  said  "There's  more  disgrace 
To  steal  from  roost  where  hens  do  sleep, 

Than  even  change  the  seal  of  state. 
Most  any  deed  of  crimson  fame, 

Is  less  beside  the  one  here  named." 


Old  Ben  was  placed  on  his  defense: 

No  one  to  think,  or  pains  to  see 
That  'neath  those  wooly  knots  of  gray, 

Far  more  the  skill  and  cunning  way 
A  plea  for  justice  he  might  say, 

Than  they,  when  wealth  and  culture  found 
The  rules  of  Blackstone  well  compound, 

With  Kent  and  Colly's  text  book  sound. 

It  is  a  custom  of  a  court, 

Before  prisoners  are  sent  to  cell, 
Let  them  their  story  rightful  tell. 

The  judge  to  the  queer  prisoner  then, 
"Say  why  I  should  no  sentense  pass 

Upon  this  dark  and  fiendish  crime, 
Or  why  I  should  not  then  impose 

Imprisonment  or  a  heavy  fine?  " 


A    MORAL.  23 


"  Say  Juge,  de  crim  mus  make  yu  wrong, 

You  no  de  war  was  on  ar  hands, 
Dat  kaised  qu're  things  on  dis  Ian, 

En  I  was  den  at  yore  kommand. 
U  tole  me  den  it  was  fo'g'n    (^^^ 

En  fo'g'n  manie  time  saved  yore  life. 
I  onli  fo'gn  de  yudder  night 

Kase  fo'g'n  den  did  save  my  life.  " 

"  Wei,  ef  fo'g'n  for  yu  was  rite, 

En  fo'g'n  yu  no  saved  yore  life, 
Why  wus  de  fo'g'n  a  big  crim 

When  I  fo'g'n  de  yudder  night? 
De  onli  diffance  dar  could  be 

'Twix  fo'g'n  now  en  den, 
Wus  dat  den  I  fo'g'n  fur  yu, 

But  now  I  did  fo'g'n  fur  Ben.  " 


24 


THE  ANARCHIST. 


i  A 

He'dark  and  cold  and  chilled  in  vein, 

The  mind  of  anarchism ':his  mien  ! 
Too  black  his  countenance  to  see, 
The  noble  image  of  liberty  ! 

In  this  great  land  where  men  are  free, 
Their  lives  to  live  in  prosperous  way, 

There  could  be  none,  but  incarnate 
Who  would  murder  or  assassinate. 

Thy  dull  cause  many  years  has  grown, 
And  seed  seditious  has  been  sown; 

The  bitterness  'tween  thee  and  right 
Has  marked  the  passion  of  thy  strife. 

This  dismal  call  for  blood  shall  cease ! 

This  howling  anger,  fancied  grief, 
Remorseless,  cruel  murmuring 

Shall  die  beneath  thy  lifeless  form  ! 


THE    ANARCHIST.  25 

Thy  life  grotesque,  cheerless,  crimson, 
To  dust  shall  take  its  bitter  flight, 

To  darkness  black,  the  densest  night: 
Forever  then  shall  cease  its  strife  ! 

Like  wormwood,  bitter  as  the  gall, 

Thou'st  chased  the  empty  thought  of  hate, 

And  bitterness  shall  turn  to  thee, 
The  crowning  of  thy  hapless  fate  ! 


THE  SECRET  OF  THE  SOUL. 


The  force  that  guides  the  ideal  thought, 

The  power  that  doth  control, 
The  mystic  force  that  giveth  strength, 

The  strength  of  the  soul; 
It  is  some  deep  and  silent  power, 

Whose  wisdom  God  doth  hold, 
Some  kindly  and  forgiving  thought — 

The  secret  of  the  soul. 


HUMILITY  OF  THE  SOUL. 


Eternal  God  our  souls  simple 

At  Thy  rich  fountain  kneeling  bow, 
Pure  wealth  our  lives  thus  free  from  stain 

As  to  Thy  spirit  reverence  claim. 
With  Thy  kind  ray  of  hope  anew 

Grand  is  the  heart  that  doth  acquire. 
Behold,  we  see  Thy  majesty 

Great  in  all  that  kind  nature  gave  ! 

The  queer  insight,  the  soul's  bright  gaze 

Uplifted  with  Thy  all  great  plan, — 
As  quick  'tis  he  from  murmuring  clay 

Cast  hopes  all  to  Thy  great  beyond; 
And,  rising  like  yon  billowing  cloud, 

Rushed  by  mighty  winds  of  Time, 
Resolve,  Thy  throne  on  high  to  reach 

Then  near  Thy  sacred  altar  bow. 


28 


SACRAMENTO  RIVER. 


Flow  on,  O  charming  stream  of  life, 

From  Sierra's  snow-capped,  dizzy  heights  ! 

'  Tis  thee  whose  mission  true  is  told 
In  lines  that  move  in  foamy  white, 

Where  dance  the  bubbles  in  the  spray. 
Sacramento  flow,  flow  on  thy  way ! 

Flow  on;  thy  winding  course  shall  be 
By  hills,  o'er  meadows  to  the  sea ! 

Oft  thy  garments  are  clad  in  white 
By  unseen  objects  in  thy  way. 

Sing  loud  with  song  cheerful  and  gay  ! 
Sacramento  flow,  flow  on  thy  way  ! 


SACRAMENTO    RIVER.  29 

Flow  on  in  thy  enchanted  course, 

Where  nature's  stretched  beauteous  scenes: 

By  hillsides,  rock  and  shrubbery  bound, 
Behind  forests  of  purest  green, 

And  meadows  where  the  violets  play  ! 
Sacramento  flow,  flow  on  thy  way  ! 

Flow  on,  glad  river,  from  day  to  day ! 

Thou  art  cheerful  as  thou  art  gay: 
A  leap  thou  makest  here  and  there; 

Thy  sprays  fast  fly  into  the  air. 
All  nature  kindly  seems  to  say, 

Sacramento  flow,  flow  on  thy  way  ! 

Flow  on,  O  river  full  of  life  ! 

Thy  haunts  must  be  some  paradise, 
Where  the  Eternal  man  hath  given  thee  grace 

To  meander  through  this  narrow  space. 
My  thoughts  best  fit  me  thus  to  say, 

Sacramento  flow,  flow  on  thy  way  ! 


3° 


MOUNT  SHASTA. 


O  giant  of  Sierra's  chain, 

We  see  thee  in  all  thy  glory  ! 
With  thy  towering  head  wreathed  in  white: 

Serene  this  garb  as  purest  light. 
Nearing  the  sky,  thy  rugged  form 

To  share  the  glory  of  the  stars, 
Steal  thou  first  beam  of  early  morn  ! 

And  bid  the  sun  gentle  to  rise ! 


We   hail  thee,  giant,  with  all  delight ! 

Grand  is  thy  beauty  infinite ! 
We  view  thy  crown  in  full  array, 

And  inspiration  seems  to  grow. 
Our  hearts  are  filled  with  brightest  glow 

As  clouds  upon  thy  summit  go. 
Reach  up,  O  Mount  to  Heaven's  height 

And  bear  our  love  grateful  to  God. 


THE  HARVEST. 


Ye  men  of  fair  and  sunny  South, 

If  there  ye  lose  your  manly  grace 
With  those  of  an  inferior  race, 

The  wrong  that  ye  have  sadly  made 
On  earth  ye  cannot  long  evade. 

Ye  reap  the  seed  ye  thoughtless  sow  ! 

Could  ye,  O  men,  through  foolish  hate, 
Some  ill  pretensions  contemplate 

Towards  him  whose  faults  your  wrongs  should  be 
The  cast  of  your  dark  enmity, 

The  crudest  passion  of  your  mind  ? 
Ye  reap  the  seed  ye  thoughtless  sow  ! 

If  then  ye  rear  your  castle  still, 
Upon  some  mean  and  selfish  will, 

Know  now  that  ye  are  building  wrong  ! 
A  rule  if  it  be  great  and  strong 

No  mad  ill  will  can  ever  build. 

Ye  reap  the  seed  ye  thoughtless  sow  ! 


32  THE    HARVEST. 

Remember  ye  'twas  long  ago, 

Where  Afric's  sunny  tropics  grow, 

The  ancient  sons  of  that  dark  land 

Slaves  then  were  made  at  your  command, 

Tyrants  to  serve  with  hearts  of  stone: 
Ye  reap  the  seed  ye  thoughtless  sow ! 

With  venial  pride  ye  crushed  him  down; 

For  him  there  was  no  freedman's  crown. 
Your  boast  of  might  "as  always  right" 

To  check  the  growth  of  liberty's  light 
Still  lingers  'neath  our  glorious  sky ! 

Ye  reap  the  seed  ye  thoughtless  sow ! 

And  bending  low  your  mind  content, 
Thus  lending  sin  to  this  intent, 

Ye  bringeth  misery  to  your  midst; 
For  sad  the  germ  decadence  still 

Clings  fast  upon  your  sturdy  will. 
Ye  reap  the  seed  ye  thoughtless  sow ! 


THE    HARVEST.  33 

Your  boast  as  free,  and  claim  of  right, 
Your  love  of  home  and  its  pure  light, 

Your  song  of  great  and  noble  deeds, 
Your  claim  of  glory's  lasting  fame, 

Are  crushed  beneath  your  erring  name ! 
Ye  reap  the  seed  ye  thoughtless  sow! 

Will  you  not  lend  a  helping  hand 
To  this  despised  unfavored  man, 

Who  suffers  still  the  wound  unhealed, 
And  to  your  wisdom  doth  appeal 

For  freedom's  chance  to  love  his  land? 
Ye  reap  the  seed  ye  thoughtless  sow ! 

To  build  your  altar  true  and  great 

Upon  an  ideal  future  state 
That  gives  fair  freedom  her  bright  chance 

God's  civilization  to  advance, 
Repeal  your  ill  and  biased  rule ! 

Ye  reap  the  seed  ye  thoughtless  sow ! 


34  THE    HARVEST. 

Do  not  forget  the  truth  as  told 
Of  ancient  greed  and  lust  for  gold. 

The  fall  of  kingdoms  finds  its  way 
Through  fettered  hands  of  sad  decay, 

The  loss  of  love  for  man  to  man. 
Ye  reap  the  seed  ye  thoughtless  sow! 

Long  as  slavery's  cursed  chains 

To  your  fair  conscience  beareth  claim, 

Our  grandest  hopes  in  thralldom  live  ! 
The  love  of  nature  then  must  die  ! 

The  harvest  is  your  soul  in  chains ! 
Ye  reap  the  seed  ye  thoughtless  sow  ! 


35 


REFLECTION. 


Angry  passions  at  times  doth  hide 

The  beauty  of  the  fairest  soul; 
Like  blackened  clouds  before  the  storm 

Threatening  the  earth  in  dreadful  scorn; 
But  when  the  man  is  free  to  give 

The  love  that  beams  from  nature's  brow, 
Angry  spirit,  nor  storming  skies 

Will  mar  the  peace  where  beauty  lies. 


THE  OUTLAWED  SPIRIT. 


Not  marked  by  sun's  scorching  rays, 
Nor  clouds  that  hang  some  evil  sky, 

Or  cares  that  steal  her  beauty  'way, 
It's  she  whose  color  is  black  ! 

The  outlawed  spirit,  the  cast  away ! 

Thou  mad'st  the  laws  of  this  land, 
To  protect  women  on  every  hand; 

But,  strange,  thou  gav'st  her  naught  to  say. 
It's  she  whose  color  is  black  ! 

The  outlawed  spirit,  the  cast  away  ! 

Know'st  thou  not  that  she  could  love, 
And  bear  to  man  the  hope  from  above 

In  woman's  exalted  glory  ? 
It's  she  whose  color  is  black  ! 

The  outlawed  spirit,  the  cast  away  ! 


THE    OUTLAWED  SPIRIT.  37 

Dire  grieved  by  cheerless  past, 

Wronged  by  ignoble  class, 
Bearing  their  burden  as  her  pay; 

The  woman  whose  color  is  black  ! 
The  outlawed  spirit,  the  cast  away  ! 

Cheerless  worker,  go  on  thy  way; 

Thy  starving  soul  must  pity  find 
Beyond  the  veil  of  human  mind, 

Thou  whose  color  is  black  ! 
The  outlawed  spirit,  the  cast  away  ! 

Move  on,  O  blighted  hope,  move  on  ! 

Arouse  thy  spirit  from  the  dust, 
The  carnal  age,  the  age  of  lust; 

Thou  whose  color  is  black  ! 
The  outlawed  spirit,  the  cast  away  ! 

We  see  thy  gloom  from  day  to  day, 
We  watch  the  serpent  with  its  prey, 

The  poisonous  sting  and  death  it  brings 
To  her  whose  color  is  black  1 

The  outlawed  spirit,  the  cast  away  1 


38  THE    OUTLAWED    SPIRIT. 


Thy  chastity  was  cast  aside 

To  soothe  the  passions  of  evil  tide 

Who  wedded  not  thy  sorrowing. 
'Tis  she  whose  color  is  black! 

The  outlawed  spirit,  the  cast  away  J 

They  pitied  not  the  sorrow  wrought, 
But,  demon  like,  fought  for  hope 

Of  bondage,  and  misery's  yoke 
For  her  whose  color  is  black  ! 

The  outlawed  spirit,  the  cast  away ! 

Can  there  be  those  with  minds  so  great 
This  dreadful  sorrow  could  relate, 

Save  her  who  suffered  another's  wrong? 
Nay,  she  alone  whose  color  is  black  ! 

The  outlawed  spirit,  the  cast  away! 

Then  live  thou  on,  O  spirit,  and  trust  ! 

It's  better  to  wed  the  woes  of  dust, 
Than  cast  away  the  throne  of  love  ! 

Live  on  thou  soul  in  black  ! 
The  outlawed  spirit,  the  cast  away  ! 


THE    OUTLAWED  SPIRIT.  39 

Build  high;  thy  hopes  shall  always  live. 

Strive  hard;  thy  soul  shall  fill 
With  conquering  courage,  dominant  will, 

Thou  whose  color  is  black  ! 
The  outlawed  spirit,  the  cast  away  ! 

Live  thou  then  for  a  brighter  day  ! 

This  woeful  age  shall  pass  away 
Beyond  the  cliffs  of  sorrow's  bounds. 

Live  on  thou  soul  in  black  ! 
The  outlawed  spirit,  the  cast  away  ! 


EULOGY  TO  THE  BRAVE. 


They  who  of  bravery  boast,  are  slaves; 

Mere  blind  are  they  and  sad  insane. 
The  brave  are  they  for  freedom's  cause 

A  noble  life  unselfish  gave. 
So  liberty  is  thus  enthroned 

On  character  of  freedom's  brave. 
Eternal  rights,  the  right  to  life 

Are  thus  by  manhood  ever  saved. 

O  Thou,  of  mighty  strength  divine, 

Givest  Thou  not  unto  the  brave 
Thy  power  and  thy  gracious  strength 

That  he  might  with  purest  intent 
To  this  great  world  bring  real  content, 

A  happier  life  with  grace  and  light, 
That  we  could  ever  serve  Thee  right 

With  freedom's  pride,  exalted  might? 


EULOGY   TO    THE    BRAVE.  41 


The  brave  are  noble,  kind  and  true, 

With  God's  spirit  and  nature  too. 
No  flattering  words  can  mar  thy  name, 

Thou,  whom  honor  doth  thus  give  fame. 
With  grace  of  all  the  Heavenly  light 

From  God's  rich  fountain  beaming  bright, 
Thy  thoughts  thus  filled  with  purest  gleam, 

Thou  shalt  humanity  lead  aright. 

Patriotism,  brave  man  is  thine ! 

It  is  a  gift  that  is  sublime  ! 
A  sense  of  justice — Infinite  source, 

Thy  duty  never  to  ignore. 
The  throne  of  God  thou  wilt  defend. 

On  earth  thou  art  a  martyred  man. 
No  selfish  pride  thy  soul  dare  claim 

Nor  greed  shall  bear  thy  heart  to  shame. 

For  freedom  the  brave  e'er  have  fought 
Mid  perils  of  earth's  darkest  night; 

Fought  they  for  Truth  in  this  great  land 
That  slavery  made  the  densest  night. 

Heroes,they  fought  to  save  the  slave 
Whose  chain  near  buried  him  'neath  the  grave. 

That  he  could  work  for  light  and  truth, 
Fits  thee  for  thy  great  crown  beyond. 


42  EULOGY   TO   THE    BRAVE. 


To  thee  we  give  the  nation's  trust, 

For  thine  own  hand  has  always  saved 
Our  glorious  flag  from  sunken  grave, 

When  evil  sought  the  power  to  rule. 
Thy  noble  heart,  O  hero  great, 

Thy  deeds  that  thou  unselfish  made 
On  liberty's  altar,  mankind  to  save, 

Doth  give  thee  title  of  the  Brave  ! 


No  single  boundary  line  could  find 

The  power  this  virtue  to  confine. 
Beyond  the  ocean  deep  and  blue 

Where  kingly  hardships  constant  grew, 
The  glorious  Stars  and  Stripes  of  right 

Were  raised  beneath  God's  fitting  light ! 
May  angels  watch  these  heroes  then; 

Humanity's  cause  they  did  defend  ! 


43 


THE  GHOST  OF  HATE. 


Clothed  with  a  mantle  of  the  night, 

Dark,  shapeless  form  that  sees  no  light, 

Thy  claim  was  once  the  soul  of  man, 
For  Satan,  quick  with  keen  insight 

Had  thought  of  man  in  his  mild  state, 
Loosed  then  from  Hell,  the  Ghost  of  Hate. 


Released,  this  spirit  of  remorse, 

Swift  as  a  courier  in  his  flight, 
Sped  on  in  his  dark  evil  course, 

From  that  abyss  of  dismal  night, 
Conquering  with  might,  then  to  subdue 

The  earth  at  length  with  this  strange  blight. 


Shadows  black  like  the  pall  of  night 
Cast  grim  reflections  here  and  there; 

The  sky  seemed,  once  fair,  to  compare 
With  ills  of  death's  dark,  deep  despair. 

But  God  gave  man  again  his  state, 

Then  chained  in  Death,  the  Ghost  of  Hate. 


44 


THE  GOLDEN  STATE. 


Rise  high,  fair  hopes  of  Golden  State  ! 

Ye  mountains,  rejoice  in  her  story  ! 
Build  thou  to  the  clouds  and  beyond! 

Live  thou  then  on  in  thy  glory  ! 
Unfold  to  thy  great  commonwealth, 

All  that  thou  hast  that  is  noble. 
'  Tis  not  thy  wealth  thou  wiliest  to  save 

But  it  is  thy  spirit  golden. 
Arise,  fair  hopes,  God  give  thee  grace 

'  Neath  one  fair  sky  in  one  grand  West ! 


Thy  beauty  grand  enthrills  the  soul. 

Thy  forests  green,  thy  skies  of  gold, 
Thy  mountains  steep  and  sheer  incline 

Where  nature  bids  the  forest  climb; 
Thy  rivers  too,  and  ocean  blue, 

They  lend  to  thy  enchanting  clime. 
Then  all  that's  here  awakening  find, 

'  Mid  these  kind  folds  that  are  sublime, 
'Tis  love's  purity,  where  beauty's  found 

'  Neath  one  fair  sky  in  one  grand  West ! 


THE  GOLDEN    STATE.  45 


Then  proud  our  anxious  head  shall  see, 

The  Western  triumph,  the  Western  free. 
And  proud  our  wishes  then  shall  be, 

With  every  effort  progress  we, 
'Neath  fairest  skies  that  God  e'er  gave  ! 

Aroused,  thy  courage  once  has  made 
A  fitting  home  for  every  man. 

Unite  as  unity  where  affinity  bounds, 
Where  power  as  strength  of  God  is  found, 

'Neath  one  fair  sky,  in  one  grand  West! 


46 


OUR  FLAG. 


We'll  never  live  to  see  the  day 

Our  great  and  noble  Flag  swept  '  way, 
By  acts  grewsome  and  tales  of  blood. 

Thrice  no!  the  honored  man  doth  say. 
With  blood  the  Stars  and  Stripes  were  raised 

A  glorious  tribute  to  the  sky. 
No  knavish  pride  shall  stretch  the  hand 

The  Stars  of  God  to  bear  them  down  ! 

Thus  filled  with  manly  pride  to  see 

This  noble  banner  waving  high, 
Fondly  our  thoughts  towards  God  doth  flee. 

With  His  bright  image  bearing  nigh 
We  feel  the  soul  of  Him  that  gave 

For  man  these  colors  grand  to  wave; 
And  ever  shall  this  symbol  stand, 

His  love,  our  hope  for  every  man. 


OUR    FLAG.  47 

Wave  on,  colors  of  our  bright  hope, 

'  Neath  fairy  breezes  of  the  sky; 
Wave  on,  our  greatest  power  wake, 

As  we  see  thy  rich  colors  fly  ! 
No  greater  gift  could  God  give  man, 

Or  man  to  man  transfer  and  give, 
Blessed  by  every  hope  to  live, 

Wave  on,  bright  flag  for  every  man ! 


YA  02098 


M3010J9 


•, 
<   i 


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